Semmelweis University: Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in English
Six-year MD, dentistry and pharmacy in Budapest: current fees, the online entrance exam, deadlines and what to check before you apply.
Semmelweis University is a medical university in Budapest that traces its history back to 1769. It has six faculties and around 16,000 students, and roughly a third of them are international students from 130 countries (university data). International applicants mostly come for three long programs taught in English: General Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Semmelweis suits applicants who are strong in biology and chemistry, comfortable in English and ready to budget about €18,680 a year for medicine. You take the entrance tests online from home.
It is a poor fit if you need a low-cost option, a guaranteed dorm room or a program without an entrance exam.
Founded | 1769 (medical faculty established by decree of Maria Theresa) |
Location | Budapest, buildings and clinics mainly in districts VIII and IX; main address H-1085 Budapest, Üllői út 26 |
Faculties | 6: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences, András Pető Faculty, Health and Public Administration |
Students | About 16,000, roughly a third international, from 130 countries (university data) |
Languages of instruction | Hungarian, English, German |
Long programs in English | General Medicine (MD), Dentistry (DMD), Pharmaceutical Sciences |
THE World University Rankings | 251–300; Medical and Health 176–200 |
Application portal |
Semmelweis University tuition fees
Semmelweis now charges tuition in euros, while one-time fees stay in US dollars. Older sites often quote dollar tuition from earlier years, so check which intake a price belongs to.
| Program | Duration | Tuition per semester | Approx. per year | Extra costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General Medicine | 6 years (12 semesters) | €9,340 | €18,680 | — |
Dentistry | 5 years (10 semesters) | €9,340 | €18,680 | Material fee: $1,250 per semester in year 2, $2,500 per semester in years 3–5 |
Pharmaceutical Sciences | 5 years (10 semesters) | €5,820 |
| Fee | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
Admission procedure fee | $400 | With the application; covers up to 2 exam attempts |
Deposit | $2,000 | Within 14 days of admission; counted toward the first semester, non-refundable |
Enrollment fee | $230 | With the first semester's tuition |
Tuition includes health care during active semesters: an English-language call center, a GP and the university's clinics. For English BSc programs, we confirm fees for your specific program during a consultation. Living costs come on top; see our guide to the cost of studying in Hungary.
What a year at Semmelweis costs
EUR per academic year, current intake
- General Medicine€18,680
- Dentistry€18,680
- Pharmaceutical Sciences€11,640
Programs and the degree you receive
The three long programs are one-tier (undivided) degrees. You don't need a separate bachelor's first.
- General Medicine — 6 years, 360 ECTS, Doctor of General Medicine (MD). The program is usually described as 2 years of theory, 1 preclinical year and 3 clinical years with block rotations in small groups.
- Dentistry — 5 years, Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD).
- Pharmaceutical Sciences — 5 years, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
English BSc programs include Nursing, Midwifery, Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Optometry and Health Care Management. English MSc programs include Clinical Translational Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Psychobiology and Systemic Psychology.
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Admission requirements for international students
Semmelweis selects students mainly through its own entrance exam. The university itself recognizes your foreign school certificate. You must be at least 18 by the end of May of your first year of study. The university says it prefers applicants under 30.
English at upper-intermediate level is expected. A certificate is not required, because your English is tested in the exam. IELTS or TOEFL scores do not replace the exam. Applicants with a BSc or higher in a related field taught in English can ask the committee for an exam exemption. It is not automatic.
How to apply for the September intake
1
Prepare your documents — school certificate and transcripts, passport. Documents not in English or Hungarian need a certified translation into either language. We recommend an apostille or consular legalization early, because you may need certified originals at enrollment and for the residence permit.
2
Create one account in SEMAPHOR and submit your application. The opening date for the cycle is announced by the university; the deadline is 31 May. Pay the $400 admission procedure fee.
3
Take the online tests in Moodle: Medical Biology, Medical Chemistry, General English and Biomedical English. Each test has 20 questions and 20 minutes, under Safe Exam Browser with Zoom supervision.
4
Attend the interview online or in person in Budapest. It covers motivation, English and oral questions on the subjects.
5
Get the decision within 2 weeks of the exam. There is a waiting list. If needed, you can retake the exam once in the same calendar year, at least a week later.
Exams run once or twice a week from spring to early summer; exact dates appear in SEMAPHOR after you apply.
Pakistan (since 9 March 2023), India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain issue apostilles. Nigeria, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait are not in the Apostille Convention. Applicants from these countries need consular legalization, which usually goes through the education ministry, the foreign ministry and the Hungarian embassy.
What to know before you apply
- Hungarian is part of the course. It is taught as a subject in the English programs. Students usually need Hungarian to talk to patients from the third year. Start early and treat it as a real subject.
- Dorm places are not guaranteed. Semmelweis has 5 dormitories with more than 900 places. Places go by social and financial criteria, and applications open in Neptun in August for about 15 days. That is too late for most visa students, so plan private housing.
- The deposit is non-refundable. Before enrollment, fees are refunded except the $2,000 deposit. The $400 fee is refunded only if you withdraw before the deadline. A proportional refund is possible if you stop studying for a valid reason, including visa problems.
Rankings and accreditation
In the THE World University Rankings, Semmelweis is placed 251–300 worldwide and 176–200 in Medical and Health. In ShanghaiRanking (ARWU), it is 601–700 overall, 51–75 in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 151–200 in Clinical Medicine and 201–300 in Dentistry. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, it is 291 in Life Sciences and Medicine, according to the university. US News Best Global Universities ranks it 164th in Clinical Medicine.
On accreditation, the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB) is recognized by WFME until 31 March 2032. WFME recognizes the Hungarian accreditor, not individual universities.
Semmelweis is a state medical university. Since 2021 it has been run by a public trust foundation, and its governance model is now being reformed.
Housing and student life
Most international students rent privately. In central districts, a room costs from about €300 and a studio from about €500 per month. The university's Semmelweis Housing service helps you search. You need an address in Hungary for your residence permit, so sort housing out before you travel.
Plan roughly €800–1,300 per month for living in Budapest in total. A shared flat or dorm puts you near the lower end; your own apartment puts you near the top. Health care is already included in tuition during active semesters.
Student visa
Applicants from visa-required countries, including Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Egypt, apply for a residence permit for studies at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in their country. The consular fee is €110. Processing takes 15 days to prepare the case and up to 60 days for a decision.
You need proof of admission, proof of funds for tuition and living costs, a Hungarian address, health insurance, a valid passport and photos. There is no fixed official minimum balance. With the permit, you can work up to 30 hours a week during term. After graduation, you can apply for a permit of up to 9 months to look for a job or start a business. Details are on our Hungary student visa page.
Other options
If Semmelweis is out of budget or your exam result falls short, compare other medical schools in Hungary. Medicine in English at the four classic Hungarian medical universities costs roughly €15,800–18,700 or $16,750–17,900 a year: Semmelweis and Szeged charge in euros, Debrecen and Pécs in dollars. The University of Debrecen also teaches medicine in English. For fully funded study, see Stipendium Hungaricum; for the full country picture, start with studying in Hungary.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Not sure if you are ready for the Semmelweis exam? Book a free consultation. We check your documents against Semmelweis University's requirements, plan your legalization and exam preparation, and compare 2–3 alternatives in Hungary that fit your budget. Write to us via the form, WhatsApp or Telegram on the contacts page.
